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It’s about laughing all the way to the bank … NOT fostering national unity, harmony or patriotism
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2, 2025: No News Is Bad News had posted an article titled It’s NOT free, someone is laughing all the way to the bank.
Now, an article is being shared on WhatsApp titled Two Badges vs. Free Education: The Stark Contrast Between Sarawak’s Vision and Anwar’s Hollow Madani Gimmicks.
The article clearly tears apart Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration
No News Is Bad News reproduces below the really worthy read:
Two Badges vs. Free Education: The Stark Contrast Between Sarawak’s Vision and Anwar’s Hollow Madani Gimmicks
The Madani government’s latest initiative—handing out free Jalur Gemilang badges to public school students—is yet another shallow, wasteful PR stunt that perfectly encapsulates Anwar Ibrahim’s approach to governance: style over substance, optics over real reform. Meanwhile, Sarawak, flush with oil and gas wealth, is making a real, meaningful investment in its future by rolling out free tertiary education for all Sarawakian students, regardless of race or religion, starting in 2026.
This contrast is so glaring that it almost feels satirical. On one hand, we have a federal government throwing money at symbolic gestures, hoping that a badge will miraculously instill patriotism in students. On the other, we have a state government taking concrete steps to uplift its people by ensuring accessible higher education, a move that will directly improve the lives of Sarawakians and enhance the state’s long-term economic prospects.
Jalur Gemilang Badges: A Complacent, Corrupt Cabinet’s Cash Grab
Anwar’s administration is increasingly defined by propaganda-driven policies that serve no real purpose beyond political optics. The free Jalur Gemilang badge initiative is just another example of the Madani government’s addiction to wasting taxpayer money on superficial projects while neglecting structural reforms. The fundamental flaws in Malaysia’s education system—outdated curriculums, declining academic standards, and a lack of emphasis on STEM—remain unaddressed. Instead of fixing these pressing issues, the government has chosen to focus on distributing badges, as if patriotism can be manufactured through government handouts.
The real winners here are not the students, not the teachers, and certainly not the Malaysian public. The real beneficiaries are the crony suppliers awarded the lucrative contracts to mass-produce these badges. How much will this program cost? Who are the vendors profiting from it? How were they selected? Will there be transparency in procurement? Knowing how this government operates, it is likely that politically connected suppliers are laughing their way to the bank, while public funds are siphoned away under the guise of promoting national resilience.
This is classic Anwar Ibrahim: grandstanding about unity and patriotism while allowing corruption and mismanagement to flourish unchecked.
Sarawak’s Free Education: A Policy Rooted in Pragmatism and Progress
Meanwhile, Sarawak’s decision to implement free tertiary education for all its students is a game-changing policy rooted in a clear, long-term vision. Unlike the federal government’s obsession with meaningless symbolic gestures, Sarawak’s leadership understands that the true path to economic resilience and national progress is through education. By removing financial barriers, Sarawak is empowering its youth to pursue higher education, acquire skills, and contribute to the state’s growth.
Crucially, Sarawak’s free education policy is race- and religion-blind—something the federal government would never dare implement. Malaysia’s race-based education policies, including the racially skewed quota system in public universities and the bumiputera-centric scholarship programs, have long been a source of inequality and resentment. Sarawak’s decision to extend free education to all Sarawakians, regardless of race or religion, is a bold and progressive move that exposes the deep flaws in Putrajaya’s approach.
A Tale of Two Governments: One Builds, The Other Distracts
Sarawak’s policies show what happens when a government is serious about development and national progress. Instead of indulging in wasteful spending and cosmetic nationalism, Sarawak is investing in the future by ensuring its young people have access to education and economic opportunities. This will lead to a better-skilled workforce, attract investments, and ultimately make Sarawak more self-sufficient.
In contrast, Anwar’s government (further text missing)
Sunday, 30 March 2025
It’s NOT free, someone is laughing all the way to the bank
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No News Is Bad News
For image info, go to https://thesmartlocal.my/jalur-gemilang-uniform-badge/
It’s NOT free, someone is laughing all the way to the bank
KUALA LUMPUR, March 30, 2025: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the Jalur Gemilang (national flag) badges for schoolchildren nationwide are distributed free nationwide.
However, someone (the badge supplier) is laughing all the way to the bank, at the expense of taxpayers’ money.
The Education Ministry had announced that the wearing of the badges would be implemented nationwide in stages from April 21.
The ministry has failed to reveal:
> HOW much the supplier is benefiting from the badges;
> HOW is it that the supplier is able to supply the badges so fast upon the announcement; and
> WAS the contract awarded in an open tender or direct negotiations?
Instead of supporting the project, for whatever reasons, Anwar should instead halt the project and call in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe whether the awarding of the project was above board.
The Madni Unity Government (UG) says the wearing of such badges would foster foster patriotism.
First get to the root of the real problems, Go tell that to the racial and religious bigots (albeit selective) or the likes of Umno youth chief chief Dr Akmal Saleh (Umno is part of the UG) who are threatening national unity and harmony with their daily spewing of sensitive issues.
FLASHBACK: A senator has asked why Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has yet to be investigated for sedition after posting a picture of himself holding a sword on Facebook. Akmal had posted the picture, taken during a recent trip to Japan, on March 14. The picture was captioned: “No matter what, we will not waver from our stance. Better to die standing than live kneeling.”
FLASHBACK: Lawyer and social activist Siti Kasim said: "I recently saw a TikTok video where he (Akmal) was seen calling the Malays to be ready. He was seen sharpening a parang ... this is something the police must act on.
"It is like he is instigating the Malays to create problems. Islam never teaches us all this," said Siti.
Really, does anyone think wearing of such badges will resolve such racial and religious bigotry? Perhaps the supplier and his/her cahoots who are laughing all the way to banks think so. Just a waste of public funds.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below news reports on the controversial Education Ministry project:
PMX calls flag pins ‘free’, netizens say ‘taxpayers’ money
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that requiring students to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge, starting April 21, aims to foster patriotism and should not be turned into a prolonged issue.
However, it has been seen as a less-than-positive thing among social media users, as they feel this may not improve upon anything.
Recently, the Prime Minister added that these pins are “free”, which made many social media users unhappy. They said that these things are produced at a cost, probably done by a local company which would then need to be paid for their job.
The payment for the job would come from the taxpayers, stated an X user. The user then asked if the manufacturer of such pins is doing this for charity or if they are getting government contracts to produce them.
Furthermore, another user asked if those in the government are sacrificing their salaries to pay for these pins. Similarly, if it comes out from the public’s fund, then it is not exactly “free”.
Social media users are unhappy with how such situations are addressed. They feel such a response was done with a condescending tone. An X user added that the public will remember such tonations used during the next general elections.
Others add that if the current administration were on the opposing side, they would probably complain about such ideas being proposed. — March 29, 2025
Pupils who don’t wear Jalur Gemilang badge won’t face action
-28 Mar 2025, 08:00 PM
The education ministry says the badges have pins making it easy to attach to any type of school uniform.
The Jalur Gemilang badge initiative will be carried out in stages from April 21, the education ministry said.
PETALING JAYA: No disciplinary action will be taken against schoolchildren who fail to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge on their uniforms, says the education ministry.
In an FAQ about the initiative that will be implemented in stages from April 21, the ministry said the badges were aimed at fostering patriotism and not an “enforcement measure”.
The ministry also said the badges would come in the form of a pin badge, which would make it easy to be attached to any type of school uniform, Bernama reported.
Two Jalur Gemilang badges will be distributed for free to pupils of public schools for the 2025-2026 school session.
The schoolchildren will be required to wear the 5cm x 2cm plastic badge on their right chest.
The initiative has faced criticism from the Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education which called it a waste of resources if children were not raised with values of unity and tolerance.
Gerakan had also urged the ministry to look beyond such surface-level initiatives, suggesting that the school curriculum be revised to instil patriotic values and nurture interethnic harmony instead.
Students to wear Jalur Gemilang badge from April 21
By New Straits Times - March 27, 2025 @ 9:14am
KUALA LUMPUR: All public school students are required to wear the national flag Jalur Gemilang badge on their school uniforms starting April 21, aimed at promoting patriotism and national resilience.
A circular issued on March 24 by Education Director General Azman Adnan stated that students must wear a 5cm x 2.5cm badge displaying the national flag on the right side of their chest.
This requirement applies to students in government schools, government-aided schools, matriculation colleges, and teacher training institutes.
Other educational institutions are also encouraged to adopt the practice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0AkYzu5JS8 (Students to wear Jalur Gemilang badge from April 21)
The guidelines, aimed at promoting patriotism, strengthening unity, and reinforcing national identity, were approved by the Cabinet on Feb 14.
The ministry hopes that wearing the Jalur Gemilang badge will instil a sense of responsibility and discipline among students while serving as a symbol of respect and national pride.
"The ministry plays a crucial role in fostering patriotism and love for the country among students and educators. Therefore, a grassroots initiative must be implemented holistically to ensure that this spirit remains strong and continues to thrive.
To achieve this, MOE has introduced the requirement for students to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge on their uniforms."
State education departments and district education offices will also encourage schools to organise educational programmes focused on national values, including the significance of the Jalur Gemilang badge as a national symbol and its role in fostering patriotism.
Keywords: NewsStudentsSchoolMalaysiaNstJalur GemilangEducation MinistryNationMalaysia NewsNst NewsJalur Gemilang BadgeMalaysian Flag
All public school students are required to wear the national flag Jalur Gemilang badge on their school uniforms starting April 21, aimed at promoting patriotism and national resilience. - File pic
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